Nernst Effect in Magnetized Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper models magnetized plasma transport in hohlraums using kinetic simulations, revealing Nernst effects, magnetic field amplification, and non-local heat flow behaviors relevant to high-energy-density physics experiments.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive kinetic modeling approach that captures Nernst advection, magnetic field amplification, and non-local heat flow effects in magnetized plasmas.

Findings

Magnetic field amplification up to 3x due to Nernst compression.

Nernst advection expels magnetic fields faster than frozen-in flux.

Non-local heat flow enhances Nernst advection mechanisms.

Abstract

We present nanosecond timescale Vlasov-Fokker-Planck-Maxwell modeling of magnetized plasma transport and dynamics in a hohlraum with an applied external magnetic field, under conditions similar to recent experiments. Self-consistent modeling of the kinetic electron momentum equation allows for a complete treatment of the heat flow equation and Ohm's Law, including Nernst advection of magnetic fields. In addition to showing the prevalence of non-local behavior, we demonstrate that effects such as anomalous heat flow are induced by inverse bremsstrahlung heating. We show magnetic field amplification up to a factor of 3 from Nernst compression into the hohlraum wall. The magnetic field is also expelled towards the hohlraum axis due to Nernst advection faster than frozen-in-flux would suggest. Non-locality contributes to the heat flow towards the hohlraum axis and results in an augmented Nernst advection mechanism that is included self-consistently through kinetic modeling.